Honestly, I don't see why Oden would stay. Word is he has an insurance policy and all, but he's got a winning lottery ticket that he can cash in. I understand that he's a smart kid, good student, and word is that he likes the collegiate experience but if he is #1 overall then his first year salary will be $4,662,000 guaranteed. The worst he could do if he's picked fifth (and he shouldn't be worse than #2 - Durant could take the top spot) would be a bit above $3M in the first year.

Any way you slice it, he'll make $15-20M+ over his first for years unless he bombs entirely and his option isn't picked up after year 2. That's not likely. Even so, he'd have around $10M in guaranteed income - that's more than most will ever see in their lifetimes.

Greg Oden is set for life, either way. If he stays, he is the #1 pick next year. If he goes, he will be 1 or 2 this year. Durant has turned into some kind of super hero, and Oden will be competing with him for the all mighty Nike dollar. If he waits, he nearly locks himself into a #1 pick and that huge endorsement contract.

Plus, these guys love Thad Matta. I think they would have gone to Xavier if he was there instead of OSU.

He talked to the Florida guys during the Final 4 and all of them told him how great the decision to stay was.

There are no negatives to stay, other than waiting 1 year to get paid.

If he leaves, his "normal" life is over, and I think he enjoys that too much.

Oden definitely, as Ronnie Duncan would say, "is all that and a bag of chips" defensively. I still question the offense. I still don't buy the hype completely, but his performance in the final game against FLorida was enough to change some of my stance on him.

Pup wrote:Greg Oden is set for life, either way. If he stays, he is the #1 pick next year. If he goes, he will be 1 or 2 this year. Durant has turned into some kind of super hero, and Oden will be competing with him for the all mighty Nike dollar. If he waits, he nearly locks himself into a #1 pick and that huge endorsement contract.

Name me the last basketball player to have their career ended by a major injury that occured on the court.

While I agree with much of what you say on this topic Pup, the fact of the matter in there is some element of danger in staying. It is very true that PROBABLY nothing happens. But the fact of the matter is we really don't know what's in these guys minds and the choices they will make at this age. People would have understood a poor Len Bias accepting money, they couldn't understand an overdose. Nobody worried about williams motorcycle skills until..... Brian Taylor getting into a fight on a college campus.. I know these are extremes, but goofy stuff can happen. The whole insurance issue. The guy is going to get his number one contract, his 70 million from Nike. I'd love to see how long one of those policy disputes with aspiring pro athletes would be in the court system.

I would currently be sitting in a bubble waiting for my name to be called.

Swerb wrote:Cook will be a first round pick, which at least financially, doesn't make the decision assinine.

He'll be out of his rookie deal at age 22, and lined up for a big payday somewhere in his 2nd NBA contract.

I'm going to disagree here Rich.

Sure, Cook may be a 1st round talent....but man, this draft is LOADED to where he could be pushed to the second round.

Even if he is a 1st rounder, he is going to be a 14th/15th guy in the NBDL for two years or so. And, he seriously runs the risk of falling into the shadows as a result, which could ruin his career.

Dude needs to come back for one more year, be THE MAN and develop his game at the same time, and then he'll be a Top 10 pick in a much-less deep 2008 Draft. He'll be a ton more polished, won't necessarily be stuffed in the NBDL, and could likely contribute with an NBA team off the bench in some role as soon as he signs.

Isn't it potentially troublesome for Oden to be friends with Conley and his "agent" father? Every time he went to Conley's house it could potentially be contact with an agent.

I just wish Greg would announce and end the drama (one way or another). My gut feeling is that both go. Cook should stay, he still has gaping holes in his game that one or two more years would help fix. Heck, he did not even start this year.

Bigger question, what happens to Ron Lewis?

Coming from a Wolverine, we're the football equivalent of a formerly abused wife of a meth addict who just remarried the safe nice guy. We're just glad we have someone who's aware that it's a rivalry and that tackling on defense is integral. Baby steps.

I like him, think he is a good player, but I am not sure that he has the shot that he needs at 6'5" to really contribute in the NBA. I hope so, he is a nice kid. I have met him a couple of times and I wish him nothing but the best of luck.

Coming from a Wolverine, we're the football equivalent of a formerly abused wife of a meth addict who just remarried the safe nice guy. We're just glad we have someone who's aware that it's a rivalry and that tackling on defense is integral. Baby steps.

Kinda weird that there's been nothing official and no word from Oden himself yet.

As an aside, having Conely Sr. as his agent seems pretty stupid. Oden is going to have all kind of endorsement deals and the like thrown his way, and a a guy who got licensed only months ago is going to work through all that legal work? Hopefully they hire some good marketing/public image people for Greg.

I think it is actually a very good idea. Conley Sr. and Oden have known each other for a very long time. While he is going to be "green" in dealing with the nuances of NBA contracts and endorsements, he is not going to be altogher unfamiliar with the life of an athlete. I would much rather have an agent that I trust and know than one that is "a top echelon" money whore.

Conley Sr. will clearly have the interests of his son and Oden close, and for reasons beyond $$ and there is a lot of value in that. Particularly when you compare this to some of the unethical behavior of these great, experienced management groups.

Coming from a Wolverine, we're the football equivalent of a formerly abused wife of a meth addict who just remarried the safe nice guy. We're just glad we have someone who's aware that it's a rivalry and that tackling on defense is integral. Baby steps.

FWIW, I've read accounts that have said that not only is Conley Sr one of the all time good guys, who thinks of Oden as another son ... but that he is also well respected within pro and college basketball circles.

He's still awaiting approval from the NBA to represent these two, but it's said to be a slam dunk.

Not a bad first two clients to start with.

"It's like dating a woman who hates you so much she will never break up with you, even if you burn down the house every single autumn." ~ Chuck Klosterman on Browns fans relationship with the Browns